Calmini lift Question 2004 Xterra XE

diablo3662

diablo3662

Bought an X
Location
carrollton Ohio 44615
I've been looking at lifts and want to go Calmini anyone able to help with install after I get it ordered and I'm going with bilstein heavy duty over the ones Calmini offer since I will my have body armour on all the way around or if there is a better kit let me know please and thank you
 
Jack Stilts

Jack Stilts

Skid Plates
Location
Michigan
You're talking about the Calmini suspension lift, right? With the shocks and upper control arms and such?

I'm north of you near Detroit, and I'd be glad to lend a hand if needed. Full disclaimer: I had my family mechanic install my full kit :) little too involved for me, and I needed it quick. Still glad to help!
 
T

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
The only worse lift kit is the Rancho one, so, yeah, the Calmini kit is not great.

It uses a 2-leaf AAL instead of a better 3-leaf AAL, the shocks they give you are old fashioned twin tube and not modern monotubes, and, they are too short to allow full droop, barely longer than stock, and, they fade badly, and, they don't last long. (I noticed you already knew the shocks sucked...but am including why so newbs reading this know too, etc)

The UCA are OK, but the ball joints are iffy.

The t-bars are OK.

The shackles are ok, but have no cross brace and break occasionally, whereas none of the braced ones from other lift kits tend to break.

Their powder coat is famous for flaking off.

So, you throw away the shocks (Its cruel to sell them to anyone), trade up to another kits shackles, and another kit's AAL, and keep the UCA and t-bars...

Or just get a better kit to start with.

Most are quite happy with 4x4parts.com's kits...also known as AC or Automotive Customizer.
 
T

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
diablo3662 said:
Yeah I was looking at that as well .. So your saying the AC kit it's way better then .. I may go that way after all
Click to expand...

The problem with AC's site, is they have a lot of confusing verbiage...

But, if you get shackles and AAL, get the 3-pack AAL.

Get the shocks spec'd for the Articulator kit.

Get the Revolver Shackles if you can afford them/you don't want your butt as high/you want to max the rear droop/articulation/get a better ride.
 
Jack Stilts

Jack Stilts

Skid Plates
Location
Michigan
I think most people on here would choose the AC kit over the Calmini. I got the setup that TJTJ mentioned above, and mine's been great save for some squeaks.

I didn't get the revolver shackles, though. If you're planning on doing some pretty heavy wheeling, they're worth it. I left my extended shackles on, which leaves a bit of rake, so the ride evens out when I'm loaded down with gear.
 
T

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
diablo3662 said:
http://www.4x4parts.com/i-18981185-...on-package-w-5100-series-bilstein-shocks.html
Click to expand...

This is a good example of the confusing part:

Notice the verbiage says it includes AAL, but not which AAL, and doesn't mention shackles...but the PIC shows shackles, and doesn't show any AAL.

If only getting one or the other, shackles are better...but, if it ONLY has AAL and no shackles, you lose wheel travel.

I would talk to them (They are very nice) about the order before having them ship it...to be sure you know what's going to be in the boxes.

:D
 
T

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
diablo3662 said:
Also how do I get my messages as big as yours
Click to expand...

LOL

That's just genetics son....




:D


Squeaks are typically from forgetting to use a urethane grease. (WD-40 etc, don't do the trick, or at least, don't work long enough)

Yeah, you wan longer shackles than stock, either the adjustable ones that can give ~ 2" of lift, or less, or the standard 3" lift kit ones (That give 1.5" of lift), or the Revolvers if you want to go crazy. :D



As for display fonts, you can edit them in your preferences.

;)
 
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diablo3662

diablo3662

Bought an X
Location
carrollton Ohio 44615
Yeah I'm just sorting out which way to go . I'm wanting to spend money wisely on my Xterra . I love it and they are very few where I live .. So if I have one that looks good . everyone around me is Stroking cummin or duramaxi .. That and I want to be able to go to a few Off road parks near me and have some fun as well .. I'm not into full blown hardcore offroading but want to get there.. This is my DD
 
diablo3662

diablo3662

Bought an X
Location
carrollton Ohio 44615
Can't wait to get my rear bumper on and sliders .. End of month we are going to wife's family cabin and want to try out my Xterra on a few of the Quad trails that fit a full size truck
 
T

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
I'm pretty sure that all the t-bars out there, calmini's and AC's, etc, are all re-badged SAW bars.

I did say they were OK BTW.

The Calmini rear suspension I had first did not flex as well though. I replaced it for that reason.

It used a 2-leaf AAL which is not as flexible as a 3-leaf AAL. I compared them and the 3-leaf flexed better than the 2-leaf (That was with the calmini shackles). The 3-leaf AAL version rode better than the 2-leaf version as well.



The Calmini shackles were an honest 3" longer than stock. The initial AC ones were too, but length creep on the AC's meant that AC's ended up being a little longer after about a year. (The ones received didn't stretch, AC just started shipping gradually longer versions....) :D

A 2-piece shackle can flex more than one with a cross brace, and, can break more easily as well. Nobody breaks shackles A LOT, unless they are idiots or wheel especially hard on them, or have other issues typically related to suspension or clearance deficiencies.

That said, I have wheeled with and have seen them break, because some guys are idiots, etc...but they didn't break the cross braced ones (Yet at least).

I didn't care about the powder coat either, I rattle canned mine black still on the rig and called it a day....a few minutes to take care of it.

I finally replaced the conventional shackles altogether when I went to Revolvers, and, those are among my favorite mods, so much bang for the buck. The ultimate droop is matchable by a flexier leaf pack (Alcan, etc) with regular lift shackles, but the down force improvements and ride quality is far better.

When I put the Revolvers on, due to loads I had to carry, I combined my old calmini 2-pack with the Deaver 3-Pack, and interwove it with the OEM leaves to make one progressive pack...which worked great for some reason.

:D

The Revolvers rode so smooth that on the road, I went about a year or so with no rear shocks on the mounts. OFF road, no damping on landings WAS a bit bouncy though...my wife said she got shaken baby syndrome from it....but ON the road, you'd never notice, it soaks up irregularities that well.

Its the main reason I recommend the Articulator Kit.

:D
 
Prime

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I have the Calmini UCAs and AAL, SwayAway T bars, & AC Shackles.

While I'm on board with the powder coat complaints, as mine are flaking badly, overall, I really like the UCAs. They're over engineered as hell and use the bolt in Pathy ball joints so they're easy to replace.
 
diablo3662

diablo3662

Bought an X
Location
carrollton Ohio 44615
Well I live in Ohio and found a place that makes new rear leaf springs and I was thinking of going that route and maybe piecing a kit together and Kinda make it best of both worlds .. And thank you all for your input just this will be my first lifted vehical .. So I just want to make sure I do it right and not buy garbage.
 
diablo3662

diablo3662

Bought an X
Location
carrollton Ohio 44615
TJTJ what's this meaning then so I understand .. Get the Revolver Shackles if you can afford them/you don't want your butt as high/you want to max the rear droop/articulation/get a better ride. .. So get the shackles and shocks from that kit right ?
 
diablo3662

diablo3662

Bought an X
Location
carrollton Ohio 44615
Yeah let me know man I'm wanting to get mine asap but have few other things to deal with before I can get it and that would be sweet if u got yours and could give me so advice on your install
 
S

schmidt1894

Test Drive
Location
Corpus Christi Texas
diablo3662 said:
Yeah let me know man I'm wanting to get mine asap but have few other things to deal with before I can get it and that would be sweet if u got yours and could give me so advice on your install
Click to expand...

Yeah, I won't be getting mine probably till end of May. And then it won't go on until the second week of June (I am having a friend who is a mechanic put it on for 200-300$)
 
T

TJTJ

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
NJ
diablo3662 said:
TJTJ what's this meaning then so I understand .. Get the Revolver Shackles if you can afford them/you don't want your butt as high/you want to max the rear droop/articulation/get a better ride. .. So get the shackles and shocks from that kit right ?
Click to expand...

Correct.

Revolver Shackles and Articulator shocks form the kit.

The Revolvers make your butt lower than the regular lift kit shackles as they don't give much lift....just crazy articulation and better down force on drooped tires, better ride, etc.
 
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